Junking Junk Food

Friday, November 26, 2010

On Black Friday, one of the most commercial days of the year, I'm feeling very anti-establishment. I've discovered that folks in Vancouver, BC started dubbing this as Buy Nothing Day! Love it! Great motto: Buy Nothing --- Value Everything!

So: along these lines regarding the choices we make when it comes to food, we are swimming against a tidal wave of advertising dollars which promote unhealthy food choices. And it's working, It's effective. Look at our similar tidal wave of skyrocketing obesity rates!

On this most commercial of days I would just encourage everyone to think twice not only of course about food choices, but about all expenditure choices. Do we REALLY NEED that (fill in the blank) ...? Are there more meaningful ways we could be spending our time and money...? Do we really want to show corporations that their advertising dollars are going to pay off and influence our choices?

My wallet is staying in my pocket today and I'm spending my time with my family.

APPYMORGAN
I have never gone shopping on Black Friday. I hate crowds and consumerism. I am in debt but it's mostly because too many times I have had to choose buying food for my kids over paying my credit card which I used to buy needed clothes. The more money I have made the more I find myself spending and we go out way too much. going out is my big waste of money and it is not good for me either health or financial wise. My goal for next year, starting now is to spend only what is necessary and budget tightly, I want to buy a house or condo, not a bunch of dinners out or some "thing". I love the motto "Buy nothing-Value everything" I am putting it up on my wall of sayings I have collected. Kristi2727 days ago

ZELLAZM
Germans are often amazed when I tell them about Black Friday. Not that German people don't go shopping, but the madhouse that takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving is something strange for them!

I like that "Buy Nothing - Value Everything!" It's a good slogan for many days for me right now as I work to get out of debt and stick to a budget.

MOMOF3NEWYORK
I'm with you. We stayed home, I organized paperwork & recycled BAGS of it, then entertained friends in the evening. Who needs "Black Friday", other than the retailers?? no see, no want!!2734 days ago

_VALEO_
Love your blog! We are having ads over here asking us to think twice when we buy. Bottom line every French family throws about 8 kg of fresh foods a year per person (and many kilos of what is used to be perfectly good breads)... when others suffer from starvation right below our windows. Insane. Like Maha, the problem isn't only "junk food" it affects everything.Can you imagine that now they produce fridges or TV with a life span so we can buy a new one after 5 years!!

We all need to buy less, package-free, and to buy what is nearby, it is a win-win situation for our purse and for the Earth.

VALERIEMAHA
Brilliant blog and a man after my own heart! Anti-Establishmentarians ARISE!

Oh my -- nothing short of, oh, about a $1 million bribe would get me out there in the consumer reality today (I know, I know...hypocrite...we all have our price, Don).

My problem isn't junk food, though I understand its impact in the larger culture. PORTION CONTROL of all the whole, organic unprocessed foods I eat would be my nemesis. I'm shakin' it all out, moment-by-moment, to get back on-track.

Thanks for ALL YOU ADD to this extraordinary SparkWorld, Don. Not ONLY are you the supreme model of what SparkPeople stands for as a wellness resource with your 120 lb. loss and completion of the 100+ miles Century Ride, but you are the SparkPeople KING of the UNIVERSE of SparkersPlayItForward.org!!!an> Maha